Getting started with Indoor Location Tracking and Positioning

Indoor tracking accurately locates and monitors the movement of objects or individuals within buildings. While sometimes referred to as 'indoor GPS', it is distinct from GPS as satellite signals struggle to penetrate buildings reliably. This necessitates the deployment of alternative positioning systems and technologies for accurate indoor tracking. These indoor positioning systems offer real-time location data and are widely utilized in industries ranging from manufacturing and warehousing to healthcare and agriculture.

Indoor Location Tracking Technologies

While GPS is widely recognized for outdoor tracking, there are various technologies available for indoor positioning. These include radio-based, optical, acoustic and magnetic solutions, each tailored to specific use cases. Among the various technologies available for indoor positioning, radio-based solutions like Bluetooth positioning and ultra-wideband have emerged as top choices. Bluetooth positioning is anticipated to see over 107 million Bluetooth asset tracking devices shipped in 2024, thanks to its low cost and long battery life. On the other hand, ultra-wideband stands out as the new golden standard for indoor positioning, offering precision, reliability, and scalability even in challenging conditions.

Comparison overview of Indoor Positioning Technologies

However, in reality, there is no one-size-fits-all technology that can be used across all situations. Increasingly, we observe devices embracing a variety of technologies to deliver dependable, adaptable, and budget-friendly indoor location tracking across diverse settings. With Pozyx we are following the same approach with our Indoor Location Tracking System that can provide both UWB and Bluetooth positioning.

Infrastructure requirements for Indoor Positioning

Regardless of technology, most indoor tracking systems require the installation of dedicated infrastructure. Some systems can rely on existing infrastructure such as WiFi access points, but this typically results in limited accuracy or unreliable performance. The required density of the infrastructure will depend on the technology chosen and how challenging the environement is. Typically a density of 1 every 200 square meters is required.

While the initial setup of a new network infrastructure may seem like a drawback, the benefits it offers are invaluable. By having this infrastructure in place, you eliminate the need to rely on or pay for a cellular network, which is still crucial for GPS trackers to transmit location data from the tracker to the cloud. This means that indoor location systems prove to be much more cost-effective on a larger scale and can provide more frequent updates on positions compared to traditional GPS tracking systems. With some indoor positioning trackers priced as low as $10, deploying them at scale becomes not only feasible but also highly cost-efficient.

Indoor Tracking Software Solutions

Choosing the most suitable indoor tracking system and technology for your specific needs is crucial. However, equally significant is the software you choose to effectively utilize indoor positioning.

In the past, companies typically integrated their indoor tracking systems into their ERP or WMS systems to begin utilizing them. While this integration can still be highly beneficial, solely relying on it to leverage an indoor location system limits the potential or may result in high integration and development costs.

Location tracking software is readily available, offering a wide range of functionalities out-of-the-box and streamlining the integration process with an ERP system. Here are some key capabilities to look for in a location tracking software platform:

Additionally, these tools can help address security and privacy concerns, especially when tracking individuals. Secure applications can anonymize employee locations, provide audit trails and much more in order to be compliant with security & privacy regulations.